Rattan construction



(ModeL) J. ELLIS. RATTAN CONSTRUCTION.

No. 429,264. Patented June 3, 1890.

INVENTOB 244/ 6% BY M ATTORNEY UNITED STATES.

PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN ELLIS, OF JERSEY CITY, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO WILLIAM T. WALLIS, OF EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY.

RATTAN CONSTRUCTION.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 429,264, dated June 3, 1890.

Application filed September 11, 1889. Serial No. 323,599. (ModeL) To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN ELLIS, of Jersey City, New Jersey, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Rattan Construction, of which the following is a specification.

Heretofore in making structures from combinations of rattan and wood difficulty has been experienced in securing the rattan in place, owing to the resilience of the material and its changeable nature, especially when subject to changes of moisture.

The object of my invention is to provide means whereby this difficulty may be overcome; and to that end before the wooden posts are placed in their framel wrap them spirally with rattan, which is secured at each end in the manner hereinafter set forth, the whole being then placed in position in the frame.

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents one of the posts before the application of the rattan. Fig. 2 represents the same with the rattan partially applied. Fig. 3 represents the same with the rattan wholly applied. Fig. 4 represents an end view of the same. Fig. 5 represents a frame containing the rattan-covered posts in position.

a is the post, which consists of a round piece of wood cut of the proper length to fit the frame to which it is to be applied, and having a longitudinal slot 1) b at each end, as shown in Fig. 1.

In carrying out my invention the rattan c is first moistened, so as to reduce its resilience and make it easy to Work. Then one end of it is placed in the slot 7), as shown in Fig. 2, and it is wound spirally around the post until the opposite end is reached. The free end of the rattan is then placed in the slot 1), as shown in Fig. 3, the rattan-covered post then being complete. The portions 0 of the rattan which are within the slots 1; and I) hold the rattan firmly, so that when it dries and recovers its resilience it shrinks, and not only cannot get away from the post, but by compressing it tightly adds greatly to its strength. This rattan-covered post is then placed in a frame 6, (the character of which depends upon the nature of the structure being built,) the ends of the posts beinginserted into holes bored in the frame to about the depth indicated by the dotted lines (Z and d, Fig. 3, and as also indicated in Fig. 5 atf and f, being held in this position preferably by glue.

It will be observed that when these rattancovered posts are thus incorporated with the frame it is impossible for the portions 0 to escape from the slots, being held therein by the encircling sides of the holes, which overlap the rattan, as well as the end of the post.

This system of construction may be usefully employed in almost any structure for which rattan is used-as, for instance, furniture, childrens carriages, doors, panels, (to.

I do not desire to limit myself to the material of which the post or frame is composed, nor to the precise form of construction shown.

I claim- 1. As an article of manufacture, a post covered withrattan,having an endinserted within a slot in the post, the said rattan being shrunk onto the post, so as to embrace it tight] y, substantially as described.

2. In combination, the frame provided with holes, which receive the posts, and the posts, each separately wound with rattan, and each provided with a slot, within which the end of the rattan is held, substantially as described.

3. In combination, the frame having holes adapted to receive the posts and a series of posts each spirally wound separately with rattan, and each projecting within the hole to receive it sufficiently to secrete the end of the rattan therein, whereby the sidesof the hole assist in holding the rattan in place upon the post, substantially as described.

JOHN ELLIS.

IVitnesses:

J. E. GREEK, \VM. M. ILIFF. 

